What is DevRel and why are they important?
Not many people are familiar with the term "DevRel." To be honest, it is still relatively new since there aren’t many people with the job title of DevRel Engineer or Developer. In this article, I will explain who a DevRel professional is and why they are important. What is DevRel? DevRel stands for Developer Relations. It is a field in tech that focuses on building authentic relationships with developers who use a particular technology. In my experience as a software developer, I tend to develop more interest in technology when I feel fully supported—such as having access to a community of developers who can answer my questions and provide resources to solve my problems. The people responsible for educating and supporting these developers are called DevRel professionals (or simply "DevRels"). It’s important to note that their role varies depending on a company’s needs. For example, in a tooling company like Microsoft, DevRels might focus on outreach, advocacy, and delivering tech demos or examples to developers. On the other hand, in a company like Google, DevRels might focus on evangelizing new tech offerings in AI. The 3 Types of DevRel Roles Community builder Developer educator Developer experience engineer Community Builders focus on organizing events, hosting livestreams, managing Discord/Slack communities, and gathering feedback from users. They act as a bridge between the company and its developer audience. Developer Educators create blogs, videos, and courses. They also speak at conferences and host workshops. Personally, this is the role that resonates most with me. Developer Experience Engineers aim to make it easier for developers to use a product. They improve documentation, provide useful coding examples and demos, and streamline product integration to ensure a seamless experience. Why Are DevRels Important? They Enhance Brand Reputation. A brand is shaped by how people perceive it, not necessarily by reality. DevRels are often closer to the developers who use a company’s tools because, more often than not, DevRels were developers themselves. They understand how developers think and can relate to their challenges. When developers find it easier to connect with a product, it invariably improves the company’s reputation. They Improve Product Development. DevRels gathers feedback from conferences, webinars, and direct interactions with developers. This feedback is invaluable for improving product features, fixing bugs, and identifying new business opportunities. They Foster Community Building. By providing platforms for developers to connect, collaborate, and share knowledge, DevRels helps create a more engaged and active ecosystem. Strong communities lead to stronger adoption of technologies and foster innovation. Final Thoughts DevRel professionals play a crucial role in bridging the gap between companies and their developer communities. Whether through education, community engagement, or improving the developer experience, they contribute significantly to the success of a product and the growth of its ecosystem. As the tech industry continues to evolve, the importance of DevRel roles will only increase. If you’re passionate about both technology and people, this might just be the perfect career path for you!
Not many people are familiar with the term "DevRel." To be honest, it is still relatively new since there aren’t many people with the job title of DevRel Engineer or Developer.
In this article, I will explain who a DevRel professional is and why they are important.
What is DevRel?
DevRel stands for Developer Relations. It is a field in tech that focuses on building authentic relationships with developers who use a particular technology. In my experience as a software developer, I tend to develop more interest in technology when I feel fully supported—such as having access to a community of developers who can answer my questions and provide resources to solve my problems. The people responsible for educating and supporting these developers are called DevRel professionals (or simply "DevRels").
It’s important to note that their role varies depending on a company’s needs. For example, in a tooling company like Microsoft, DevRels might focus on outreach, advocacy, and delivering tech demos or examples to developers. On the other hand, in a company like Google, DevRels might focus on evangelizing new tech offerings in AI.
The 3 Types of DevRel Roles
- Community builder
- Developer educator
- Developer experience engineer
Community Builders focus on organizing events, hosting livestreams, managing Discord/Slack communities, and gathering feedback from users. They act as a bridge between the company and its developer audience.
Developer Educators create blogs, videos, and courses. They also speak at conferences and host workshops. Personally, this is the role that resonates most with me.
Developer Experience Engineers aim to make it easier for developers to use a product. They improve documentation, provide useful coding examples and demos, and streamline product integration to ensure a seamless experience.
Why Are DevRels Important?
They Enhance Brand Reputation.
A brand is shaped by how people perceive it, not necessarily by reality. DevRels are often closer to the developers who use a company’s tools because, more often than not, DevRels were developers themselves. They understand how developers think and can relate to their challenges. When developers find it easier to connect with a product, it invariably improves the company’s reputation.They Improve Product Development.
DevRels gathers feedback from conferences, webinars, and direct interactions with developers. This feedback is invaluable for improving product features, fixing bugs, and identifying new business opportunities.They Foster Community Building.
By providing platforms for developers to connect, collaborate, and share knowledge, DevRels helps create a more engaged and active ecosystem. Strong communities lead to stronger adoption of technologies and foster innovation.
Final Thoughts
DevRel professionals play a crucial role in bridging the gap between companies and their developer communities. Whether through education, community engagement, or improving the developer experience, they contribute significantly to the success of a product and the growth of its ecosystem.
As the tech industry continues to evolve, the importance of DevRel roles will only increase. If you’re passionate about both technology and people, this might just be the perfect career path for you!
